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Mercedes Hybrid  (Source: CNET)
Mercedes hybrid vehicles will not be able to drive on electric power alone

Hybrid cars are quickly becoming a popular way for drivers to save at the pumps and help save the environment. While the long-term savings offered by a hybrid vehicle when compared to a normal gasoline engine are debatable, hybrids continue to thrive.

Japanese automakers have been offering hybrid cars for many years now and one of the first hybrids to hit the market was Toyota's Prius. German luxury carmakers like BMW and Mercedes have yet to produce a production hybrid vehicle. Mercedes points out that it instead focused on diesel engines and has diesel engines that are comparable on fuel efficiency to electric hybrids.

Diesels may sell well in Europe, but in America, the diesel engine is not a popular choice. Due partly to these concerns, Mercedes finally announced that it will bring a hybrid vehicle to the U.S. and Europe. Business Week reports that Mercedes will offer a hybrid version of its S-Class luxury sedan which will first be available in Europe in June of 2009.

Mercedes reports that the hybrid S-Class will be available in the U.S. and China in September 2009. The hybrid S-Class will get overall fuel economy of about 29.8 miles per gallon. For comparison, Honda recently announced its Insight would offer fuel economy of around 71 miles per gallon.

Mercedes thinks that its average affluent buyer isn’t ready for a Prius or an Insight, but a hybrid S-Class would be appealing and would help improve how the Mercedes buyer feels about owning such a large car. The exact price of the hybrid option hasn’t been determined by Mercedes at this time. Mercedes Sales and Marketing Director, Klaus Maier, says that the hybrid S-class would likely carry a premium over the stock S-class of around $14,000. Add that to the starting price of $88,000 and you get an idea of the sales price.

Mercedes reportedly doesn't use a hybrid system similar to what is common in the Toyota Prius with large batteries and the ability for short bursts of full-electric driving. The Mercedes system uses a lithium-ion battery that is slightly larger than a typical car battery. The hybrid battery stores under the hood as well, meaning that S-class owners will see no reduction in interior or trunk space by choosing the hybrid option.

The electric hybrid motor will supplement the six-cylinder gasoline engine producing 279-horsepower during acceleration to help improve fuel economy. The Mercedes hybrid system will also use regenerative braking to help recharge the battery.

Mercedes also points out that its lithium-ion battery is one of the main innovations of its hybrid system. The new battery technology allows the complete hybrid system in the S-type to add only 165 pounds of total weight to the car. Mercedes also makes clear that its lithium-ion battery system has no potential to overheat.

The S-class is the first hybrid in what Mercedes envisions as a complete line of more environmentally friendly luxury vehicles. The luxury carmaker plans to offer one new hybrid vehicle each year after the debut of the S-class hybrid.

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Mercedes-Benz C Gets 45 MPG
By jw6594 on 9/15/2008 1:23:31 PM , Rating: 2
With the Mercedes-Benz C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY getting 45 MPG at a similar price point it might be a better choice. And at least then you are getting close the the MPG of a cheaper hybrid and still maintaining some level of luxury.

http://www.thetorquereport.com/2008/09/post_14.htm...




RE: Mercedes-Benz C Gets 45 MPG
By Cullinaire on 9/15/2008 2:40:08 PM , Rating: 2
That's a limited edition vehicle. Plus, I don't see how the market for the S and C class overlap. That they are both "green" isn't enough.


RE: Mercedes-Benz C Gets 45 MPG
By lagomorpha on 9/16/2008 1:40:27 AM , Rating: 2
The size and level of luxury of a C class (the baby Mercedes/entry level Mercedes for America) has nothing to do with the size and level of luxury of an S class.

http://mx.youtube.com/watch?v=19OPLnjVA4U


RE: Mercedes-Benz C Gets 45 MPG
By sxr7171 on 9/22/2008 6:51:14 PM , Rating: 2
Diesel in the US still has not come of age. What can you do?


Rather give my money to ...
By Duffus on 9/15/2008 6:12:38 PM , Rating: 2
I'm not sure about the MB but I looked at the Lexus GS gas vs. hybrid and I would rather give my money to a company like Lexus or MB that is investing in hybrid technology - even thought the long term savings are nil - than give that same money to OPEC who is thinking about cutting production to maintain prices...




RE: Rather give my money to ...
By Gzus666 on 9/15/2008 6:14:54 PM , Rating: 2
So the car that gets 12 mpg will maybe get slightly more? Yea, you are right, that is a good plan, why buy something efficient? Assuming that is what you are after. But nevermind that, you will show OPEC.


RE: Rather give my money to ...
By Duffus on 9/15/2008 6:31:01 PM , Rating: 2
That is not the point. Reward the people who are actually doing something - Not the vultures like OPEC. And your comment about making a difference... it's like voting. Enough people make a difference.


RE: Rather give my money to ...
By Gzus666 on 9/15/2008 6:33:09 PM , Rating: 2
Whatever you have to tell yourself.


What a Joke
By Gzus666 on 9/15/2008 11:43:16 AM , Rating: 2
Last hybrid I have seen in the luxury sector was the LS600H, which was about $20k more, weighed more, and produced 1 more mpg in the city, and lost 1 on the highway compared to the non-hybrid counterpart. I have a feeling this will follow suit. Does this move make sense to anyone?




RE: What a Joke
By adiposity on 9/15/2008 12:31:21 PM , Rating: 2
Well, the GS 400H improved over the standard GS in a lot of ways, and was actually priced less than the GS430 at the time (if you included the "premium package," which is the only package the GS400H shipped with). I don't think it was ever too popular, but it did get better mileage and was cheaper. I guess it goes to show how overpriced those cars are in the first place.

Dan


RE: What a Joke
By Zoomer on 9/16/2008 10:27:17 PM , Rating: 2
Of course it makes sense; it makes for good marketing and will push more sales.

Fuel economy is a secondary concern for this class of vehicles.


safe
By castormalin on 9/15/2008 11:50:02 AM , Rating: 2
Are the lithium batteries very safe ? I mean, some of these overheat and take fire in laptop.




RE: safe
By Drexial on 9/15/2008 12:14:39 PM , Rating: 2
That's only if the quality of the manufacturing process is compromised. which it was in that case. I'm sure, especially for use in a car, they will hold the quality to a high level of scrutiny.


RE: safe
By Mojo the Monkey on 9/17/2008 6:51:45 PM , Rating: 1
yeah, but over millions of (eventual) implementations and varying road/strain/crash conditions, I can hardly wait for the superfires!


hippies
By vapore0n on 9/15/2008 1:17:19 PM , Rating: 1
Mercedes just needed to show that they care about the environment.

Too bad this car is not really for the masses, but more for those that already have a Hummer in every color available.




RE: hippies
By Suntan on 9/15/2008 4:04:56 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Too bad this car is not really for the masses,


That's ok. No current hybrid is "currently for the masses." They are all for people that *want* to own a hybrid.

-Suntan


Who cares?
By Optimummind on 9/15/2008 8:48:33 PM , Rating: 3
I don't know why people keep arguing and saying stuff like, "Wow, only a true MB lover would buy this" or "People who buy this car is all about the image and no practicality." If a person has a disposable income and he/she decides to spend so-and-so amount of money on an item, that's his/her freedom. There is no need to criticize them and speculate about their hidden or additional motives/intentions or guess about their supposed superficiality. It's their money and they can spend it however they want. Those people who speculate about the integrity and character of people who spend a lot of money on cars such as this just end up appearing to be bitter, jealous poor or middle-class people.




Nice
By TheFace on 9/15/2008 11:41:01 AM , Rating: 2
I'll take two, one for the weekend, and one for the workweek.




Weight
By lagomorpha on 9/15/2008 6:10:57 PM , Rating: 2
"The new battery technology allows the complete hybrid system in the S-type to add only 165 pounds of total weight to the car."

I have a feeling the 4465 lb S-Class won't mind the extra weight...




Mercedes, not in the hybrid class
By Jay2tall on 9/16/2008 8:49:15 AM , Rating: 2
My thought on this whole matter is, Mercedes doesn't have the majority of there perspective market looking for a hybrid car. If you can afford an $88,000 car you can afford the gas to go in it. Mercedes has an image associated with it rather than good fuel economy. The average Benz shopper is looking for style, image, size, power, that a Mercedes can deliver. Fuel economy is low on their list. I believe this vehicle is meant to cater to the small percentage of their market that IS looking for a hybrid vehicle that gets better than the average Benz fuel economy. If you are looking for a hybrid, you are looking at Toyota, Honda, or other companies that are in that game.

My own opinion is that the HIGHER end all electric cars are where the technology is at. I think these are the vehicles that will make a large impact on the rest of the hybrid or full electric car market. The Tesla and Volt will incorporate the latest and greatest tech and that will trickle down to the cheaper vehicles over time. Companies are recognizing that the Lithium ion batteries need to be smaller and more powerful, electric motors need to be more efficient, etc. Before the hybrid concept, we didn't need to improve on these technologies at the pace we do now. Research goes into what the consumer is looking for, and now this is what they want. Give it 5 years, you will be amazed at what is going to churn up. Our whole concept of fuel and power is going to start changing drastically in the next 10-20 years. We are starting to recognize what is happening to our climate, whether it is our fault, the natural course of things, or a combination of both. Sharp is investing in Solar technology, and other companies in wind and other means to produce power. If we can generate clear electricity and have an abondance of it, you will see electric cars being produced like made. They will go further and charge faster. I give it 10 years before we start seeing a huge shift but until then. I'm driving my 2004 Honda Accord that gets 25-30mpg. I'll wait for the good stuff to come.




Hmmm....
By JasonMick (blog) on 9/15/08, Rating: -1
RE: Hmmm....
By Cygni on 9/15/2008 12:04:55 PM , Rating: 5
You clearly arent a Mercedes customer. They are looking for people who desperately want to prove their self worth to their neighbors and friends, and do so with an overpriced, huge, heavy, unreliable car that looks the same as every other luxury car on the market. Adding a hybrid power train will just suck in MORE people attempting to show off.

Luxury cars are a huge joke.


RE: Hmmm....